[SOCCER AMERICA AWARDS] Casey Townsend, who started every game for NCAA Division I champion Maryland and finished second on the Terrapins with 26 points on 11 goals and four assists, is the 2008 Soccer America Men's Freshman of the Year.Townsend, a two-time Mr. Soccer in Michigan, got a jump on things when he enrolled at Maryland last spring, and it paid off as he started every game and finished second on the Terrapins with 26 points on 11 goals and four assists.

Coach Sasho Cirovski credits Townsend's work in spring practice for his rapid improvement. One of Townsend's best games of the season came in the ACC final, a 1-0 win over Virginia during which he set up teammate Jeremy Hall with a well-placed cross for a third-minute goal and hit the crossbar with one of seven shots in the first half.

Townsend was joined by fellow Terrapin Zac MacMath on the All-Freshman first team and Matt Kassel on the second team.